Size and scoring are two things the Licking boys will have plenty of this season.
That starts with returning senior stars 6’5” Nathan Wilson and 6’4” Brady Smith.
Wilson averaged 25.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game as a junior. He shot 52 percent on shots inside the arc, but just 30 percent from three-point range last season.
That is something he has worked to improve in the off-season.
“Nathan is shooting the ball better than he was. He has always been a great scorer, but his perimeter shot looks even better than it did last year,” Licking coach Ben Glasgow said.
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Wilson will pass 1,500 points this season and has a shot at the 2,000-point mark.
Smith is back after averaging 16.3 points and a team-high 7.8 rebounds per game as a junior.
“Brady has expanded his game a lot this summer. His athleticism has really gone through the roof,” Glasgow said. “He was able to use that in a lot of different ways this summer on both ends of the court.”
Adding to the starting line-up’s size will be 6’6” sophomore GT Nicholson who averaged 2.9 points and 2.7 rebounds per game as a freshman.
Bringing the ball up the court will be senior point guard Dylan Smith. He was third on the team in scoring with 8.1 points and led with 3.1 assists per game last year.
“What we really need more than anything from him is just stability at that point guard position. With the players we have around him, that could be one of those things where teams try to attack us at that spot,” Glasgow said. “If he is able to be a steady point guard that can handle the ball and take the pressure off of those other guys as far as getting it down the floor, that will just make us that much better.”
Tristen Morelan, Terrance Hale, Clabe Sullens, Michael Milhiser and 6’4” Sean Loughridge will round out the rotation for Licking.
Expectations are undoubtedly high for this experienced group of Wildcats.
“We think we can make a run in the playoffs,” Glasgow said. “Our district is really good. If we can get out of our district then we feel we have a chance to win the next couple games and maybe make a run.”
Licking opens the season on Nov. 26 in the Frisco League Tournament that runs through Dec. 3.
